Preview: Partick Thistle vs Ayr United - prediction, team news, lineups

Partick Thistle and Ayr United turn their attention to cup action on Saturday afternoon, as they meet in the second round of the Scottish League Cup at Firhill Stadium.

Both sides have had sluggish starts in the Scottish Championship and will be hoping a cup run can spark their season.

Match preview

Partick Thistle began their 2025-26 campaign with a humbling 5-1 defeat away to Premiership side St Johnstone.

In their second league outing, the Jags managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against Greenock Morton, with Logan Chalmers converting a 50th-minute penalty to level the score.

Last season, Thistle finished fourth in the Championship under Brian Graham before parting ways with the Scottish manager.

New boss Mark Wilson is tasked with leading them back to the Premiership, but early results suggest there is work to be done.

Historically, the Scottish League Cup has not been a happy hunting ground for the Jags, as they exited at the group stage last season and have never lifted the trophy.

Their best modern run came in 2022-23, when they reached the quarter-finals but were thumped 4-1 by Aberdeen.

Recent meetings have been evenly matched - four wins, three draws, and three defeats in the last 10, offering little comfort for Thistle.

Ayr United, managed by former Celtic captain Scott Brown, also endured a frustrating start to the season.

The Honest Men opened with a 1-1 draw against Arbroath, taking an early lead through Jacob Murphy before conceding a late equaliser to Nikolay Todorov in the 89th minute.

Their second league match ended in a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Raith Rovers, with Dylan Easton’s first-minute strike proving decisive.

Brown’s men finished third in the Championship last season with 63 points but ended the campaign poorly, winning just once in their final five matches.

This season’s early struggles, just one point from a possible six, means this cup fixture comes with added pressure.

Partick Thistle Scottish League Cup form:

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Partick Thistle form (all competitions):

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Ayr United Scottish League Cup form:

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Ayr United form (all competitions):

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Team News

Wilson could freshen up his attacking and defensive options for the Jags.

New signings Tony Watt, Paddy Reading, Tsoanelo Letsosa, Cammy Logan, and Ben McPherson have all made their debuts, while Alex Samuel is still awaiting his first appearance.

Goalkeeper Lewis Budinauckas was dropped after conceding five goals in his first outing, with Josh Clarke replacing him in the second game, and the latter could once again be trusted.

For Ayr, Brown may opt to pair new arrival Liam Dick with Nicholas David McAllister at centre-back.

Stuart Bannigan and Matthew Warbrick are in line for debuts, while goalkeeper David Mitchell is expected to keep his place despite failing to keep a clean sheet in his first two outings.

Summer recruits Dom Thomas, Jude Bonnar, and Kyle Ure on loan have already featured.

Partick Thistle possible starting lineup:

Clarke; Reading, O’Reilly, Ashcroft, Logan; McBeth, Stanway, Chalmers, Crawford, Fitzpatrick; Watt

Ayr United possible starting lineup:

Mitchell; Watret, McAllister, Dick, McMann; Murphy, Bonnar, McKenzie, Thomas; Main, Oakley

We say: Partick Thistle 1-2 Ayr United

The Honest Men may have opened the season with mixed results, but their blend of pace in attack and a more disciplined defensive setup could prove decisive in this cup tie.

Thistle, meanwhile, are still trying to find their rhythm under Wilson - defensive lapses and inconsistent finishing have cost them points.

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